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TORONTO, Aug. 22, 2014 /CNW/ - On Aug. 20, at its annual meeting in Ottawa, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) voted on and approved a delegate resolution opposing the smoking of any plant material, including medicinal cannabis. Bedrocan Cannabis Corp., a leading Canadian licensed producer of medicinal cannabis is supportive of the CMA motion.

The CMA is quite right to point out that there are particular hazards associated with smoking any plant material, including medicinal cannabis. While some patients, particularly those who use small quantities, choose to smoke medicinal cannabis, the preferred method of delivery is via the use of a vaporizer – a device that heats cannabis to release the cannabinoids (the active ingredients), but does not burn it. There is good clinical evidence to show that vaporized cannabis contains significantly lower levels of toxins and harmful chemicalsi.

In addition, there is one medicinal cannabis vaporizer, the Vapormed Volcano Medic®, approved in Canada as a class 2 medical device. The use of a vaporizer allows patients to use cannabis to manage the symptoms of health conditions such as chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, anxiety, insomnia and other conditions, while avoiding the degree of risk involved in smoking a plant product.

This is an important distinction, because there is clinical value in patients being able to use medicinal cannabis via inhalation. Because the cannabis vapor is absorbed through the lining of the lungs, this method has a rapid onset of therapeutic effect, and allows patients to relatively effectively control dosageii.

It is entirely appropriate, and consistent with the mission of the CMA, to warn patients of the hazards of smoking a plant product. It is also important to note that a safer alternative – vaporization – does exist, and is being used by an increasing number of Health Canada registered medicinal cannabis patients.

About Bedrocan

Bedrocan is the global leader in medicinal cannabis research and product innovation and has been producing and supplying government-regulated medicinal cannabis for 13 years. Bedrocan's strains of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis are used by patients in seven countries, including Canada. The company is committed to clinical research, with ISO 9001-rated production processes and product development, on an international scale. Bedrocan is one of only two companies currently supplying pharmaceutical-grade medicinal cannabis in Canada.